"In the fall of 2016 a wave of suicides passed through the underworld of Stockholm."

Thus begins John Ajvide Lindqvist's novel X - The last place, the concluding part of the trilogy that was begun with Himmelstrand and The Movement.

Once upon a time, criminal commissioner Tommy T was the darling of all of Sweden, but in recent years his star has fallen. The investigation of the suicides is to be his resurrection. Together with his dog Hagge, he digs into the mystery of the evasive figure 'X' that seems to be behind everything. The traces lead to a huge party of cocaine and to an infinite field of short cut grass and a sky without a sun.

At the same time, Tommy's nephew Linus is drawn deeper into X's business. He is 17 years old and lives in the megalomanian high-rise building Gårdsstugan. Ever since he at the age of 13 started selling his own ADHD medicine, he has dreamed of becoming a dealer in the higher divisions. When he finally gets the chance, the business turns out to be both more dangerous and stranger than he could imagine.

X - The last place is a supernatural crime novel where petty crime crosses the preternatural. There is a bigger plan behind what happens and a lot points towards the Brunkeberg tunnel. Powers beyond human control seep into the suburbs and change Stockholm.

Somebody up there must like us. Or notGoogle's translation, edited by me.

Footnotes:Somebody up there must like me - Nån däruppe måste gilla mig - is a song of Peter Himmelstrand.

I believe Gårdsstugan is modeled after Grindtorp, a residential area featuring huge buildings adjacent to the road John would use to go from his home to Stockholm. Here's a view from the road as well.

But from the beginning Eli was just Eli. Nothing. Anything. And he is still a mystery to me.John Ajvide Lindqvist

John's upcoming novel X: Den sista platsen is an attempt to write in the hard-boiled style. John read some Raymond Chandler beforehand to get inspiration.

The working title of John's next novel is "Vänligheten" (The Kindness). One of the themes of the novel is the kindness people show each other. It will be firmly set in Norrköping, similar to the way LtROI is set in Blackeberg.

John is contemplating whether he should follow his publisher's suggestion and publish a book containing parts of all the notes he has made in preparation of each book. I certainly would like to read it!

John is working on scripts for two TV series, one for a Swedish and one for a foreign TV company.

Hanteringen av odöda, which has been in the pipeline for more than a decade, is not likely to be shot. There are currently too many zombie projects around...

The next trend in the horror genre is ghosts.

John contemplates including demons in his next book.

But from the beginning Eli was just Eli. Nothing. Anything. And he is still a mystery to me.John Ajvide Lindqvist